JANEL ANDERSON: CEO of Working Conversations, a company that works with organizations to improve communication, shares concepts from her book “Head On: How to Approach Difficult Conversations Directly” and debuts a new TED-style talk titled “How to Look in the Mirror.” David Goldman, known as the Laughing Stockbroker, will emcee and do standup comedy. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23; Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave., Mpls. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/taking-life-head-on-an-evening-of-conversation-with-janel-anderson-tickets-50490849490.

BROOKE BARKER: Writer and illustrator who grew up in Minnesota presents “Sad Animal Babies,” about how complicated their lives can be, from the moose who tries to mate with cars to single parrots who talk to blenders. 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22; Magers & Quinn, 3039 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

CHARLIE BONDHUS: Reads from his new poetry collection “Divining Bones,” in which he uses the occult and the magickal to explore the fluidity of age, gender, and self-perception, including baked bread that becomes a baby and a first-grade class stages Oedipus Rex. At the center stands Baba Yaga, the child-eating witch and earth goddess of Russian folklore. Bondhus will be joined by Kris Bigalk, James Cihlar and Roy Guzman. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27; SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., St. Paul.

JEFFREY BROWN: Blends facts with fun in “Lucy and Andy Neanderthal: Bad to the Bones,” part of his graphic novel series that includes theories about how Neanderthals went extinct, a timeline covering the history of Earth,dinosaurs, and other interesting stuff. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28; SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., St. Paul. Brown will also be on a panel about graphic novels with Drew Brockington (“Castronauts”), and Graham Annable (“Peter & Ernesto”) at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul.

CORRAO/ABBOTT: Mike Corrao launches “Man, Oh, Man,” a novel about two patrons in a dim cafe with no clue of how they’ve arrived, where they’ve come from and why they are there. They only know they hate each other. Daniel Abbott introduces “The Concrete,” the story of two boys who try to escape the reality of the violent streets of Grand Rapids, Mich. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23; Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S, Mpls.

BRIAN FREEMAN: Award-winning Minnesotan who has made Duluth his fictional home talks about his work, including his bestselling series featuring Det. Jonathan Stride. His other popular series is about Cab Bolton, eccentric Florida investigator. Freeman’s titles have been printed in 22 languages and sold in 46 countries. His appearance concludes the current Club Book series, a program of the Metropolitan Library Service Agency. Free. 6;30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25; Carver County Library – Chanhassen Public Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen.

PATRICIA HAMPL: University of Minnesota professor whose “A Romantic Education” began the renaissance of memoir, discusses her books, including her latest, “The Art of the Wasted Day.” Author of nine books of prose and poetry, Hampl is a proud daughter of St. Paul, shown in her books “Virgin Time” and “The Florist’s Daughter.” Free. 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28; Ramsey County Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave., Roseville. Presented by Ramsey County Library and Czech & Slovak SOKOL.

LGBTQ TEENS:A panel discussion about the booming genre of young adult books aimed at LGBTQ readers with writer Rachel Gold “Just Girls” and “Being Emily” and librarian Christine Jenkins, co-author of “Representing the Rainbow in Young Adult Literature.” Gold will read from the new edition of “Being Emily.” For young adults, parents, school staff/educators and aspiring YA authors. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24; Quatrefoil Library. 1220 E. Lake St., Mpls.

JOHN LELAND: New York Times journalist will talk about the inspiration for his bestselling book “Happiness Is a Choice You Make,” based on the year he spent with six of New York’s “oldest old” (85 and older) and how their wisdom changed his life and inspired many others. With musical guests Dennis Spears and Sanford Moore. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24; Temple of Aaron, 616 S. Mississippi Blvd., St. Paul.

LINDSAYNAUEN: When Nauen was becoming obese, she made a commitment to her fitness journey, resulting in her new book “No Quick Fixes, a Fitness Journey for the Real World.” 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27; Common Good Books, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.

GARY ELDON PETER: St. Paul author reads from “Oranges,” a collection of linked short stories about the life of a Midwestern gay man. Peter is a faculty member in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26; Common Good Books, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER: Discusses “The Contest: The 1968 Election and the War for America’s Soul.” a look at one of the most tumultuous years in the 20th century. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23; SubText Books, 6 W. Fifth St., St. Paul.

Mary Ann joined the Dispatch-Pioneer Press in 1961 when there were two papers. She has been a fashion writer, a women's columnist and the women's department editor who brought "society" pages into the 20th century. She was named book editor in 1983, just when the local literary community exploded. She has won the Minnesota Book Awards Kay Sexton Award, a Page One Award and YWCA Leader Lunch Award. She retired in 2001 and works part time. A graduate of Macalester College, she lives on St. Paul's West Side in a money-sucking Victorian house with assorted old animals.

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